Conversation hearts and heart-shaped boxes of chocolate have been the top-selling Valentine's Day candies, based on sales analyzed from the previous 11 years and compiled by CandyStore.com. The firm also lists top sellers by state, and they include items such as Hershey Kisses, M&M's and chocolate roses.

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Sweethearts conversation hearts made up 10.2% of Valentine's Day candy purchases, compared to 9.6% coming from heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, according to a CandyStore survey conducted last year. In recent years, Sweethearts has added a Spanish language variety and incorporated fan suggestions into its assortment of playful messages.

Conversation hearts topped the list of the US' most popular Valentine's Day candies last year, beating out the second best-seller, heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, according to data from Candystore.com. The online candy shop released an interactive map of the most popular candies in each state, revealing that Pennsylvania consumers prefer Valentine's M&M's, Kentucky shoppers lean toward chocolate roses, and those in Wisconsin buy Hershey's Kisses the most.

More than 8 billion candied hearts will be produced this year, and 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate will be sold, according to NCA, which also reports that physicians in 1800 told lovelorn patients to eat chocolate. Other Valentine facts: 1 billion cards are sent each Valentine's Day, and Richard Cadbury introduced the first box of Valentine chocolates in 1868.

Russell Stover, the candy industry leader in Valentine's Day sales of heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, expects 8% of its sales from this year's holiday to come from a new low-carb line. Atkins is reporting higher sales of its low-carb candies, and Hershey Foods will release its 1 g Sugar Carb bars in mid-March.

Russell Stover, the candy industry leader in Valentine's Day sales of heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, expects 8% of its sales from this year's holiday to come from a new low-carb line. Atkins is reporting higher sales of its low-carb candies, and Hershey Foods will release its 1 g Sugar Carb bars in mid-March.